Japan’s defense chief says alliance with U.S. will endure

U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter, right, and Japanese Defense Minister Tomomi Inada pose for a photo prior to their meeting at the Defense Ministry Tokyo, Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2016. The U.S. and Japan announced Tuesday that Washington will give back to the Japanese government nearly 10,000 acres of land on Okinawa that U.S. Marines use for jungle warfare training. (Kazuhiro Nogi/Pool Photo via AP) U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter, right, and Japanese Defense Minister Tomomi Inada pose for a photo prior to their meeting at the Defense Ministry Tokyo, Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2016. The U.S. and Japan announced Tuesday that Washington will give back to the Japanese government nearly 10,000 acres of land on Okinawa that U.S. Marines use for jungle warfare training. (Kazuhiro Nogi/Pool Photo via AP)

By Associated Press December 6, 2016 1 min read

TOKYO (AP) – Japan’s defense chief says she believes her country’s alliance with the United States will endure in the Trump administration because it benefits both countries.

Defense Minister Tomomi Inada was asked about President-elect Donald Trump’s suggestion that Japan build its own nuclear deterrent force. She says Japan expects to remain under the U.S. nuclear umbrella.

She also says Japan will stick to its commitment to achieving a world without nuclear weapons. She spoke at a joint news conference Wednesday with U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter.

Carter is stressing his view that U.S.-Japan relations have never been stronger.